New York Town Official Shoots DoorDash Driver Seeking Directions, Faces Felony Charges
- Victor Nwoko
- May 7
- 3 min read
A town official in Chester, New York, has been arrested and charged after allegedly shooting a 24-year-old DoorDash driver who rang his doorbell late at night while seeking directions during a delivery. The incident occurred on May 2 in the wooded Valerie Drive neighborhood of Orange County, approximately 60 miles north of Manhattan.
John J. Reilly III, the Town of Chester Highway Superintendent and a federally licensed firearm dealer, reportedly fired multiple gunshots at the driver, hitting him once in the back as the victim attempted to leave the area. According to the New York State Police, the driver, a recent immigrant from Guinea-Bissau, had lost his navigation while making a food delivery and was asking nearby residents for help.
At 9:50 p.m., the driver approached Reilly’s home. Reilly allegedly told the driver to leave his property before opening fire. A neighbor’s doorbell camera recorded the victim calling out, “I need help,” moments before the shooting. The driver, whose name has not been released, managed to flee the scene in his car and return to his home in Middletown before seeking medical attention at a hospital, where he was treated for serious but non-fatal injuries.
Police confirmed the driver had not been acting suspiciously and was simply performing his job. “There’s nothing to indicate the victim had any nefarious intentions,” said New York State Police Captain Joseph Kolek.
The driver’s family expressed shock and relief that he survived. “He asked the guy, ‘Is this your order?’ The guy said, ‘No,’ and proceeds to say, ‘Get off my property.’ He walks away, going to his car, and the guy tries to murder him,” a relative said. “He just started shooting at him and he thought his life was over.”
The incident has drawn condemnation from DoorDash, which released a statement saying, “No one should ever fear for their safety just for trying to make deliveries in their neighborhood. We’re devastated by this senseless act of violence, and we’re wishing the Dasher a full and speedy recovery.”
Hospital staff notified law enforcement after treating the victim, prompting Reilly’s arrest on May 3. He has been charged with first-degree assault, second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, and criminal possession of a firearm. He is being held at Orange County Jail on a $500,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court on May 9.
Town of Chester Supervisor Brandon Holdridge issued a statement expressing concern over the incident while emphasizing due process. “We are deeply troubled by what has been reported so far. We hope the person who was injured in the incident makes a full and healthy recovery,” Holdridge said. He added that the Town Board has no authority over Reilly’s position as Highway Superintendent, as it is an elected office.
The Chester Police Department recused itself from the investigation, which is now being led by New York State Police Troop F. The town confirmed that municipal operations will continue uninterrupted during the ongoing legal proceedings.
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